The Power of the Cross

I can’t believe it, but it’s week four in our study of the Power of God. I want to finish today with where I see the energy behind our faith. Without this source we would be left to just sit back and wait on God to do everything and be everything in our lives. This source I’m talking about. The Cross.

If Jesus Christ had not gone to the cross for you and me we would all be here powerless to accomplish anything. It would all have to come from our will, our mind and our strength and we know how far that would take us. Thankfully, Jesus not only died on the cross, but was also raised three days later. His resurrection power accomplished many things. I’ll give you a few of them. I will supplement them all with references to God’s word.

The first thing the power of the cross did was to forgive us of our sins. It now made it possible for us to approach God. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14.

We need to remember our sins of yesterday, today and tomorrow were nailed with Jesus to that cross on Calvary. Praise Jesus for that. His obedient act also gives us the power to come out of the darkness into the light. Without Jesus, we’re left to stumble around and find our way in life. The Apostle Paul recounted these words of Jesus to him on the road to Damascus.

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Acts 26:17-18

Jesus’ words in this verse also spell another power of the cross. It’s victory over death. Satan no longer has control over us because he has been defeated. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

While we have to deal with Satan in our lives we can be confident that we know the end of the story. Jesus wins and so do we. Satan’s power in our lives in limited to how much we surrender to his lies and crafty ways.

The power of the resurrection is what allows us to tap into God’s power. It gives us the ability to do things we never could have imagined. It’s almost like God saying “You know, I have so much power that I’m going to let you have a little of it to start out.” Paul wrote about it in his prayer in Ephesisans. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20

As we grow in Christ, God gives us more and more power. I guess that makes us like the Energizer bunny. We can keep going and going. But, if we don’t do anything with what God gives us He will give it to the person who is working to advance the Kingdom. I could go on forever about God’s power and strength in our lives, but instead I will leave you with a verse from the Message about Paul’s goals for God. It should be yours and mine as well.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it. Philippians 3:10-11

May you feel and act strengthened by the Lord today. God bless you all.